Recent study finds children use language less when tv is on

A key excerpt from an article regarding a recent research study on children, language, and television:

"Audible television clearly reduces speech for both infants and their caregivers within the home, and this is potentially harmful for babies’ development. There is simply nothing better for early childhood language acquisition than the spoken and imitated words of caregivers, and every word counts. Television is not only a poor caregiver substitute, but it actually reduces the number of language sounds and words babies hear, vocalize and therefore learn," said lead researcher Dimitri Christakis.

Baby Talk Is Important to Early Literacy

"...There’s one thing that’s so easy parents can do it any time, any place — for free — and [babies] will love it: Talk to them and give their fledgling words your full attention."

That's the crux of a recent article published in The Vancouver Sun, reminding parents that even though they might not understand what their babies are saying, it is important to listen and respond.

It also reminds parents to share nursery rhymes with babies and toddlers. Knowledge of nursery rhymes has a strong relation to early reading and spelling success. So, check out some Mother Goose books from the library, and chant or sing or simply read them with your little one.

The First Lady and Children's Books

Oprah's website offers a list of children's books Michelle Obama has been seen reading or toting around. They are:
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Olivia by Ian Falconer
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Check out copies for your family at your local library!

Susan Runholt is visiting the Galaxie Library!

Susan Runholt, author of the Kari + Lucas Mysteries, The Mystery of the Third Lucretia and the brand-new Rescuing Seneca Crane, is visiting the Dakota County Galaxie Library! Join us Monday, September 28th, at 7pm to meet Ms. Runholt and learn more about her books.

Dakota County Galaxie Library
14955 Galaxie Avenue
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952-891-7045

If you liked..., try...

If you're looking for favorite book read-alikes, give this fun site a try! It conjures up matches for you, based on information it gleans from LibraryThing and Amazon.

The End of the Reading Rainbow

"Reading Rainbow comes to the end of its 26-year run on Friday; it has won more than two-dozen Emmys, and is the third longest-running children's show in PBS history — outlasted only by Sesame Street and Mister Rogers."

I have to be honest -- I thought it had ended years ago. That's not to take away from the wonderful work it did at its zenith in the 80s and early 90s. Surely it will live on in reruns and DVD releases.

I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD

STILL TIME FOR LIBRARY USERS TO NOMINATE LIBRARIANS FOR 2009 CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK/NEW YORK TIMES I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD

Nominations are still open for the 2009 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations will run through October 9 and are being accepted online at www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Up to 10 librarians will be selected. Each will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend an awards ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times in December. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.